Means for handling electrical equipment and the like



Dec. 4, 1956 R. E. APPLEG ATE MEANS FOR HANDLING ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENTAND THE LIKE Filed Nov. 23, 1955 i Z g f 1 l? Robert E flppleyaa BY CZHIS HTWOENEY United States Patent MEANS FOR HANDLING ELECTRICALEQUIPMENT AND THE LIKE Robert E. Applegate, Grayson, Ky.

Application November 23, 1955, Serial No. 548,672

2 Claims. (Cl. 16-114) My invention relates to means for handlingelectrical equipments and the like, and more particularly to means thatcan be readily applied to an equipment or device, such as a transformer,for example, for handling the device at a storeroom or yard, and from atruck to a location at which it is to be installed. Also, it enables thedevice to be safely handled when it is taken out of service and returnedto a storeroom.

It is the general practice for the manufacturers of electricalequipments to crate the smaller transformers and similar units forshipment from the factory to the purchaser. Such crating makes itrelatively easy to handle and move the units with safety. However, thepurchaser, who is usually a power distribution company, must uncrate thedevices at their storeroom or yard in order for each device to bestenciled with the purchasers name, its size and an identifying locationnumber. Once uncrated, the handling of these devices about thestoreroom, into trucks and at the outlying locations'of installation,without mechanical injury to the device and physical injury to theworkmen, becomes a problem.

Furthermore, many of the locations at which such devices are installedare inaccessible to a truck and the device must be carried from thetruck to the location by the workmen. The terrain not infrequentlyincludes a steep hillside or a swamp or is covered with brush, and thedifficulty of carrying a device is greatly increased. In rural electricdistribution systems, rough ground and inaccessibility of a location atwhich electric units are mounted on a pole is the rule rather than anexception.

Heretofore, the manner by which transformers and similar equipments havebeen handled and carried after being uncrated has been for the workmento take hold of terminal bushings or any place they can get a hand holdbecause handles are not provided. This manner of handling and carryingthe equipments frequently results in the breaking of a bushing or damageto a seal and vapor lock, and the inside mechanism is open to damage bymoisture. Hence, repairs to the unit are required at once or soon afterit has been in service. Furthermore, the awkward manner in which theworkmen can take hold of a unit results in many injuries to their feet,hands and backs. Not infrequently such injuries to a workman cause aserious loss of time and a corresponding financial loss for the company.

Again, lightning arresters are attached generally to a transformerbefore it is taken to the location at which it is installed and thechances of damage to this complete unit in the handling and carrying ofit by the workmen are greatly increased, and the financial loss to thecompany due to breakage may be a relatively large item.

The need for a safe and satisfactory arrangement for handling andcarrying uncrated equipments of the type here contemplated hasconfronted electric power companies for a long time and variousarrangements have been tried. During my many years in the operation andmaintenance of an electric power distribution system, I

have experienced much dilliculty in the handling of un- 2,772,440Patented Dec. 4, 1956 crated units, and as far as I am aware there hasbeen no satisfactory solution of the problem prior to my invention.

Consequently, a primary object of my invention is the provision of noveland improved means for handling electrical equipments and the like.

Another object of my invention is the provision of novel handling andcarrying means which can be applied readily to a device of the type hereinvolved by a purchaser after it has been removed from its shippingcrate.

Again, an object of my invention is the provision of means that can beapplied to a device to enable workmen to handle the device at a storageyard and to carry it from a truck to a point of installation withrelatively little danger of damage to the device.

Still another object of my invention is the provision of improved meanswhich can be applied to an electrical unit or the like to enable workmento carry the unit even over rough ground to a point of installationinaccessible to a truck with little danger of injury to a workman.

Another object of the invention is the provision of equipment handlingmeans of the type here contemplated which is relatively inexpensive bothin its structure and in the application thereof.

Again, an object of my invention is the provision of handling andcarrying means having detachable handles and a company has to provideonly a few handles for its entire system.

Another object of my invention is the provision of handling means whichcan be used as a sling in hoisting a device up onto a pole or platformand in lowering it from the pole.

Other objects of my invention as well as advantages and features ofnovelty thereof will be apparent from the following description taken inconnection with the accompanying drawings.

I shall describe a preferred form of structure embodying my invention,and shall then point out the novel features therof in claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figs. la and lb are top and front views,respectively, showing a holder to be secured to an outer case or housingof a device which is to be handled and carried.

Figs. 2a and 2b are side and end views, respectively, showing a handlethat is detachably associated with the holder of Figs. 1a and 1b.

Fig. 3 is a side view showing the handle of Figs. 2a and 2b attached tothe holder of Figs. 1a and lb.

Fig. 4 is a top view showing the handle attached to the holder, theholder being a slight modification of that shown in Figs. 1a and 1b, andwhich modification I may use.

Fig. 5 is a pictorial view illustrating two holders and handles of theinvention secured to a transformer for handling and carrying it.

In each of the several view like reference characters are used todesignate similar parts.

Although in the drawings the structure embodying my invention is shownapplied to a transformer, it is to be understood that the structure isnot limited to a transformer in its application but it is equallyadaptable to other electrical devices, such as circuit breakers andcapacitors, and also to devices other than electrical equipments.

There are many places the structure embodying my invention would beuseful and I contemplate these various uses.

Referring to the drawings, the reference character 10 of Figs. la and 1bdesignates a holder for the handling means. This holder 10 is arelatively short strip of any material suitable of being secured to theouter surface or case or housing of a device or equipment. For example,when the device is provided with a steel outer case or tank, the holdermay be a strip of steel channel or channel iron. The dimensions of thestrip are not critical and would be preselected according to the sizeand weight of the device with which the handling means are to be used.For example, for a medium size transformer, the holder 10 may be a stripof the order of five inches in length of a channel having a depth of theorder of three inches, flanges one inch wide and a web one-fourth inchthick.

In the example cited above, the holder 10 would be secured to the caseby welding flanges 11 and 12 of the channel to the case. This weldingplaces the web 13 spaced away from the case the Width of the flanges 11and 12. That is, there is a clear space between web 13 and the case ofthe device.

While welding is a preferred manner of securing the holder 10 to thecase when used with a steel outer case or tank of a transformer, oilcircuit breaker or capacitor or the like, it is clear the holder 10 maybe secured to a case or housing as by tap screws. At times the flangesof the channel or" the holder may be formed with a lip to aid insecuring the holder. In Fig. 4, the flanges 11 and 12 of a channel stripprovided for holder 10 are shown with lips 14 and 15, respectively, foraiding in securing to a surface of a device.

At least two holders 10 are provided and the two holders would besecured to the case of the device on opposite sides. That is, the twoholders would be located substantially 180 degrees apart. in otherwords, the two holders are diametrically opposite each other.Furthermore, the holders preferably are disposed in a vertical position,that is, the center line of the channel web 13 is vertical with thedevice sitting on its base. Again, the two holders would be secured onthe case at approximately the same height above the base. Obviously,more than two holders may be provided and arranged in any convenientmanner on the outer surfaces of the device to be handled.

Each holder 10 is provided with two eyes or slots 16 and 17 in thechannel web 13 spaced apart a preselected distance. Preferably, the eyes16 and 17 are on the center line of the channel web 13. The spacing ofthe eyes 16 and 17 may be, for example, three inches when the channelstrip is five inches in length, but other spacing can be used.

The two eyes 16 and 17 are alike in shape and each has a circular bottomportion 18 and a rectangular upper portion 19 which has parallel edgesspaced less than the diameter of the circular bottom portion 18.Although the eyes 16 and 17 are shown alike and placed on the samevertical line of the channel web 13, the two eyes may be different inshape and arranged in the web in a pattern different from that shown,the essential feature being that each eye or slot has a preselectedshape and size and they have a preselected spacing with respect to eachother.

Looking at Figs. 2a and 2b, the reference character 20 designates ahandle, which may be, for example, formed from a strip of sheet steel orother suitable material. The handle 20 includes a face 21 and a handgrip or gripping portion 22. The strip is bent for the hand grip 22 toextend from the upper end of face 21 at substantially right angles.Preferably, the free end of the portion 22 is looped in a more or lesscircular manner for the two ends of the strip to abut and be weldedtogether. The face 21 is of a length at least equal to the length of theholder 10.

The straight part of the hand grip 22 is of a length to enable a workmanto take hold, that is, it has a length of the order of four to sixinches. The strip of metal for handle 20 is of any suitable width and asbest shown in Fig. 2b, the handle is of a width of the order of twoinches. The handle strip is of a thickness to afford am- 4t plestiffness. The edges of the hand grip portion 22 would be rounded off asby filing so that it can be grasped by a workman without injury to hishand.

Two bolt members 23 and 24 are secured in the face 21 of handle 20, and,as here shown, these members are round headed bolts, the shanks of whichare secured in the face by insertion through holes and the inner ends ofthe bolts welded or riveted to the face. The bolts 23 and 24 extend fromthe face for the heads thereof to be spaced from the face a distance alittle greater than the thickness of the web of the channel of holder10. The two bolts 23 and 24 are mounted on the same vertical line andspaced apart a distance equal to the spacing of eyes 16 and 17 of theholder. Again, the heads of bolts 23 and 24 are of a diameter slightlyless than the diameter of the circular portions 18 of the eyes 16 and 17and of a thickness less than the width of the holder flanges 11 and 12.Furthermore, the shanks of bolts 23 and 24- are of a diameter slightlyless than the spacing of the edges of the rectangular portions 19 ofeyes 16 and 17. It follows that handle 20 can be attached to holder 10by inserting the heads of bolts 23 and 24 through the circular portionsof eyes 16 and 17 of the holder, and then raising the handle with theshank of the bolts to engage the upper portions 19 of the eyes of theholder. in this raised position, the handle is firmly locked to theholder by the bolt heads engaging the inner surface of the web 13.Conversely, handle 20 can be detached from holder 10 by lowering thehandle until the bolt heads mate with the circular portions of eyes 16and 17.

Side and top views of handle 20 attached to holder 10 are disclosed inFigs. 3 and 4, respectively. Two handles 20 are provided one for eachtwo holders 10 mounted on opposite sides of the device. Thus twoworkmen, one taking hold of each of the two handles, can pick up andcarry the device with the device between them. When the device isrelatively heavy, the additional holders and handles are provided.

Fig. 5 illustrates the structure used with a transformer TR having ametal case or tank 25. Two holders 10 are welded to case 25 at pointsapproximately degrees apart a selected distance from the top of thecase, the locations of holders 10 being selected to clear terminalbushings and other elements of the transformer. With a pair of handles20 attached to the holders in the manner previously explained, workmencan safely move and carry the transformer TR with little danger ofdamage to the transformer or injury to a workman. When the transformerhas been moved and installed, the handles can be detached leaving theholders in place, the holders not interfering in any way with itsoperation. Obviously, the handles 24? can be used as slings by which thetransformer can be elevated to supports or platforms on a pole. Again,the handles can be attached to the holders for lowering the transformerfrom its position on a pole and carrying to a truck when it is taken outof service and returned to a storage yard.

While eyes 16 and 17 of holder 10 and bolts 23 and 24 of handle 20 aremounted on the same vertical lines and the eyes 16 and 17 are alike inshape, it is clear that other patterns and spacing can be used, theessential requirement being that the bolts of the handle mate with theeyes of the holder.

In view of the foregoing description, it is clear that the handlingmeans embodying my invention has advantages that it can be readilyapplied to a device which has been uncrated and thereby enable workmento move the device about a storeroom into and out of a truck and atinstallation locations with the chances of damage to the device orinjury to a workman reduced to a minimum. Also, it can be used as asling in raising the device up to a pole support or platform.

Again, it can be manufactured at a very low cost, and the handles beingdetachable, only av relatively few handles are needed for an entiresystem. The holders. can be welded or otherwise secured to the case of adevice at the storeroom or in the field. Obviously, these holders can beprovided by a manufacturer if desired.

In practicing my invention, I have found it fills a great need in movinguncrated electrical equipments around the storage yard, loading them ontrucks and unloading and handling them at the places of installation.

As stated hereinbefore, although the greatest need for handling meansembodying my invention is in its use in handling electrical equipmentsof power distribution systems, there are many other places it may beuseful. While only a preferred form of structure embodying the inventionis shown and described, the structure may be varied within the scope ofthe appended claims without departing from the spirit and scope of theinvention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. In means for handling an electrical equipment having a single Wallmetallic outer case for housing electrical apparatus with insulatedterminals with weather seals secured in the wall of the case and whichequipment is uncrated by purchaser for marking and then handled uncratedat storeroom and at a field installation point, there being no means fortaking hold of the case, the combination comprising, a pair of holderseach a strip of a steel channel, each said channel with flanges whichare welded to the case after the equipment is uncrated and each saidholder with the flanges of the channel welded to the equipment case withthe web of the channel spaced from the case the width of the flanges,each said holder with the center line of the channel web vertical andthe two holders mounted substantially 180 degrees apart on the case andat points on the case selected for the holders to clear the insulatedterminals and weather seals, each said holder with two handle eyes inthe channel web one above the other a preselected distance, each saidhandle eye with a circular bottom portion and an upper rectangularportion with vertical edges a preselected distance apart, two metallichandles, each said handle with a face and a hand gripping portion whichextends from one end of the face at substantially right angles, a pairof round headed bolts secured in the face of each handle and spaced forthe bolts to mate with the spacing of said handle eyes of said holders,each said bolt extending from the face opposite the hand grippingportion with a length of bolt shank slightly greater than the thicknessof the channel webs of said holders, each said bolt head of a diameterslightly less than the diameter of said circular portion of said handleeyes, and each said bolt shank of a diameter slightly less than thedistance between the edges of said upper portions of said handle eyes.

2. An equipment handling means comprising in combination with anelectrical equipment having a single wall steel housing case in whichterminal bushings with weather seals are secured and which equipment iscrated for safe handling during shipment from a manufacturer to apurchaser and is uncrated by purchaser for marking and handled uncratedat storeroom and field installation point, there being no means fortaking hold of the case, two steel channel strips of a size preselectedaccording to the size of the equipment, each said channel strip providedwith flanges along its lengthwise edges which are welded to the caseafter the equipment is uncrated and each said channel strip with itsflanges welded to the equipment case with the channel web standing awayfrom the case the width of the flanges, said two channel strips securedon the case substantially degrees apart and at substantially the sameheight above the equipment base, said two channel strips spaced for thestrips to clear all terminal bushings and weather seals, each saidchannel strip with two eyes in the channel web, the two eyes of a stripspaced a preselected distance apart in the center line of the web, eachsaid eye with a receiving portion of a preselected shape and a lockingportion having parallel edges a preselected distance apart, two sheetmetal strips, each said sheet metal strip with a face portion and a handgripping portion extending from one end of the face portion, each saidface portion with two bolt members secured to extend from the faceopposite said hand gripping portion, said bolt members spaced to matewith the spacing of said eyes and extending from the face a distanceslightly less than the width of said channel strip flanges, each saidbolt member with a head and a shank which mate with the receivingportion and the locking portion respectively of said channel strip eyes,whereby said two sheet metal strips can be interchangeably attached anddetached with said two channel strips.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS582,439 Smith May 11, 1897 631,574 Kircher Aug. 22, 1899 2,072,569 ShoanMar. 2, 1937 2,197,141 Belden Apr, 16, 1940 2,459,658 Klein Jan. 18,1949 FOREIGN PATENTS 7,552 Great Britain Mar. 29, 1902

